Booking It is Back! Here are My January Reads

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Hey there! I'm Jessica. I think that motherhood should be savored, like a good piece of chocolate. But sometimes it feels like more duty than delight. Am I right? I'm working to change that. Read more about me here and this blog here.

Want to get the low down on great books to read? Start Booking It with us!

For those of you who’ve been around here awhile, you might remember the monthly feature, Booking It. For years on a monthly basis, I shared books I had read while readers got a chance to share which books they’d read and loved — or hated. It was a great opportunity to get ideas about what to add to the night stand.

I took 2015 off from “booking it”, basically because it didn’t seem that Life as Mom readers were all that interested in Booking It with me. However, when I asked you a few weeks ago what you wanted, there was a resounding chorus that book reviews and discussions needed to get back on the table. In fact, in yesterday’s scope, folks said the very same thing.

So….

Booking It is Back!

Once a month I’ll round up my reads of the previous four weeks to share with you. I hope you will do the same. It’s my hope we’ll all be reading more intentionally, enjoying good books together, and learning and growing through the written word.

The Scoop on Scope is a basic primer for anyone who wants to learn how to use the Periscope app. While I’m not one to read directions for anything, I decided to cut to the chase when I saw that this book was on sale awhile back. I snatched it up and got a crash course on Periscope.

Since then I’ve really come to love the morning broadcasts I do, so I’m really glad I jumped right in with a little know-how. This book is a great resource if you want to get the basics on how to use Periscope for fun as well as for business.

(Kristi is a real life friend, now, but when I first started this book about a month ago, we hadn’t yet met. She and her family live only a short drive from our house, so we met earlier this month for a play day. Super fun!)

A Fatal Grace is part of the Chief Inspector Gamache series, a mystery series set in French-speaking Canada. Right up my alley, mes amis! Don’t worry, the book’s in English. Readers recommended this series late last summer, but I’m slow getting my library holds in line. I just checked out #3 via the Overdrive system, so you know what I’ll be doing this weekend!

This is the second in the series that I’ve read, and I enjoyed both of them. My oldest son has read them as well. There are definitely some mature issues. This second one was a little racier than the first. I was a little taken aback, honestly, so I won’t be recommending it to my other kids which is a bummer. We like mysteries!

Like my dear DCS Foyle, Inspector Gamache is a good guy, through and through. You want him to win, solve the case, and go home safely to his wife with a baguette under his arm. Highly recommend!

I’d heard about Stafford’s first book, Hands Free Mama when it was all the rage, but I never read it. Because it was all the rage. Sometimes I get stubborn like that.

Anyway, I picked up Hands Free Life when it was just a buck ninety-nine, based on Crystal’s glowing recommendation. I’m glad I did. While I glossed over the poetry a bit — I’m not a poetry fan — I loved the message and the reminders to focus on my family in the here and now and not to get distracted by my to-do’s.

It’s probably no coincidence that I was reading it while I was tweaking my time budget, and it’s very possible that it has influenced the institution of coffee walks. It’s not a book I could digest in one sitting, but with it on the Kindle app on my phone, I was able to click there while I was waiting at the lab, walking the treadmill at the gym, or sitting around with a few minutes.

(This is my new favorite way to avoid social media apps and still have something to occupy my mind.)

While this book wasn’t life-changing in a dramatic way, I’d say it was super encouraging.

Now, I’ve got some books on my stack to read, but I’m definitely on the lookout for some great books. And I bet YOU have got some good ideas. Tell us!

What have YOU read lately?

About Jessica Fisher

I believe you can get great meals on the table -- and still keep that pretty smile on your face.

Comments

I’m previewing books for my 2nd grader to read during the next academic year. I found some hits, and some misses. I will confess to being surprised by both misses. I assumed I would like them both, even if I didn’t like them for her. Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen – I’m pretty sure that all the real themes of this book would go over my child’s head, now maybe I’m wrong, but…I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t understand stock market manipulations, the intricacies of illegal workers, all that is involved in a boxing match! I love paulsen, but…not yet. Matchlock Gun- this was another miss for me. :(. I’m pretty sure it would terrify my child, and their wasn’t a great conclusion. The bears on hemlock mountain- FINALLY a hit! I liked it, and I’m sure my daughter will love it. We can relate to the large family dinners and the need for a bigger pot. 🙂 The Nancy Clancy chapter books – my 7 year old LOVES these. Are they phenomenal specimens of literature? No, but they are fun. As for me, once I finish her stuff, I’m getting back to “The Bronte Plot”. I’m having a harder time getting into this one than I have the others by this author, but I’m hoping for a good read.

My 10 year old and I both just finished The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon. It was recommended to us by our local bookstore owner. We both enjoyed this book and the illustrations, and I look forward to seeing future books by this author.

The book is the story of a boy named Archer, he is a dreamer and longing for adventure, but lives a very overprotected life at home. His grandparents are world travelers and adventurers who are lost. He and his two friends work together to come up with a plan to find his grandparents. I don’t want to give too much away. The characters are quirky and the friendship of Archer and his friends would seem a bit unlikely but their quirkiness draws them together, I think. I have seen many comparisons to Roald Dahl books. I will say that Roald Dahl is my daughters favorite author (well it’s probably a tie with JK Rowling), but I am not a fan of Dahl ( I grew up as a big fan of Little House books and found Dahl slightly creepy). So since we both liked it, perhaps is it Dahl-like without being too odd?

My favorite read this month was Recipe For Love and Murder: a Tannie Maria Mystery by Sally Andrew. Full of quirky characters, exotic locale and some great recipes. I also read The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose. Great nonfiction for kids and adults. I also love Louise Penny. Reading #6 right now.

I read Becoming Marta because the description sounded good, but I didn’t like it. It was a Kindle First option, so at least it didn’t cost anything. I haven’t read for fun for a long time and thought it’d be a good reentry title. I did enjoy the Mexican culture, but not the racy sex.

I’m currently reading A Paris Apartment and I thought it was based on a true story, but it’s not. I’m enjoying it though.

My husband and I drove to Anaheim last week and listened to Suspect, by Robert Crais. That one was good.

There are a few more in my Goodreads account, but I can’t remember them.

I thought about starting the Fatal Grace series, and didn’t, but I don’t know what made me decide not to. Do you recommend it?

I just finished the Wingfeather Saga – loved it! Also finished Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson and Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry, which I’d recommend too. Now I’m starting up All the Light we Cannot See, Amy Carmichael by Iain Murray, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, and Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney. I’m going through the Challies Reading Challenge at the obsessed level (104 books) so am reading a lot this year.

I am so glad you liked the Wingfeathers! I have read Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry and liked it. I was surprised how well a man was able to understand the female perspective. Curious to read Jayber Crow.

The girls and I have been jumping around between Narnia, Trixie Belden, and Harry Potter since they missed reading those the first time when I read them with the boys. Well, the boys haven’t read Trixie Belden. 😉

I’m trying to finish “The Brothers Karamazov” right now. I’ve been reading it since November and have about 150 pages to go. It’s good, but often slooooooow and I kept getting distracted by other things I was more interested in reading. I also read the latest Flavia de Luce novel (love these!) in January, and the first two or maybe three books of “Middlemarch,” out of a total of eight I think.

I’m not “allowed” (by me) to read anything until I’m done with The Brothers Karamazov, because I know if I put it down again it’ll be months before I come back to it! The Louise Penny novels you’re reading are some of my very favorite books I’ve read in the last three or four years. I always get so hungry reading them, though! 🙂

Love love love Inspector Gamache series! I also have on my “to-read” the Rachel May Stafford book~ She is quite inspiring reading, and I need that with all the crazy that happens each day! I love reading what others read, so thanks for sharing!

Yay! So glad “Booking It” is back. I’m having a hard time finding books that capture my attention this year. I’ve started and abandoned several books already. That’s unusual for me (I generally love to read).

By the way, Jessica, when do you find the time to read when you have so much on your plate?

My newest trick is to get the book on Kindle via Overdrive digital library and then to read when I have snippets of time while I’m waiting somewhere or when I’m bored and tempted to waste time on facebook. 😉

I love library books on the Kindle (and Kindle app!) as well! Right now I’m trying to read through my physical “to read” shelf since we’re moving in five mo tha and need to eliminate some of our piles of stuff, but I’m finding it difficult. I’ve been spoiled by always having my book with me on my phone and Kindle, and being able to read while I nurse the baby or have a small snippet of time but haven’t brought a book with me.

Just finished reading “Dead Wake” by Eric Larson. It is about the sinking of the ship Lusitania. Very good non-fiction. I do not usually read non-fiction but enjoy Eric Larson’s books and feel like I know a little more history after reading them.

I had to chuckle when you said you weren’t into the Magic Tree House book in your scope. My oldest is 5 so we’re almost there, but not quite yet, but another mom I know was recently complaining about the sentence fragments and I thought, “Oh, that’s odd. I know Fishmama reads them with her kids. I wouldn’t expect her to be into sentence fragments.” Now it all makes sense!

I’m going to be a big Booking It fan. Thanks for bringing it back! I made a goal to read one non-fiction and one fiction book each month this year. Wish I could read more, but two is ambitious enough in the season of life I’m in. In January I read Heartfelt Discipline by Clay Clarkson – really GREAT book! Love Sally Clarkson & family. I also read Crystal Paine’s ebook 21 Days to a Disciplined Life because DISCIPLINE is my word for the year. Got a few good tips from that. My fiction book was Butterflies by Susanne Gervay. I read that one to increase my product knowledge since I’m a consultant for the company that sells it. It was just okay. Also reading the book of John during my Bible time right now.

My “to read” list is so long, but I’m excited to read through everyone’s recommendations each month and find some good ones!

Yes, this was the first MTH I ever read. My kids were into them. And like I mentioned here in the thread, at some point I could no longer keep up with my kids to preread everything they touched. Unfortunately. :/

No judgement here! We started a read aloud with my son that he loves, but we’re not particularly fond of and my hubby commented that we should pre-read everything. While I would love to be able to do that, it’s just not realistic!

Love seeing what everyone is reading! I just finished a good non-fiction book called Into Thin Air about the Mt Everest disaster in 1996. Now I’m rereading To Kill a Mockingbird since it’s on my daughter’s reading list this year. I am Planning to follow it up with Go Set a Watchman.

Jessica, I am so glad you have brought Booking It back 🙂 Hands Free Mama hasn’t made on my to be read list yet, but maybe this year?!? Looks like lots of people are happy to be booking it with you this year 🙂 Here is a link to my reading in January post

I’ve recently read I am Malala, Ella Minnow Pea, and The Last Unicorn. Malala is worth reading. It’s a good peek into the culture, history, and the thinking of the people of Pakistan. All 3 books were for book club, but at least I’m reading again!

Hi! I'm Jessica. I want to help YOU get great meals on the table -- and keep that smile on your face. Read more here.

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